1
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Wang P, Kang Q, Wu WS, Rui L. Hepatic Snai1 and Snai2 promote liver regeneration and suppress liver fibrosis in mice. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113875. [PMID: 38451818 PMCID: PMC11025633 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver injury stimulates hepatocyte replication and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, thereby driving liver regeneration. Aberrant HSC activation induces liver fibrosis. However, mechanisms underlying liver regeneration and fibrosis remain poorly understood. Here, we identify hepatic Snai1 and Snai2 as important transcriptional regulators for liver regeneration and fibrosis. Partial hepatectomy or CCl4 treatment increases occupancies of Snai1 and Snai2 on cyclin A2 and D1 promoters in the liver. Snai1 and Snai2 in turn increase promoter H3K27 acetylation and cyclin A2/D1 expressions. Hepatocyte-specific deletion of both Snai1 and Snai2, but not one alone, suppresses liver cyclin A2/D1 expression and regenerative hepatocyte proliferation after hepatectomy or CCl4 treatments but augments CCl4-stimulated HSC activation and liver fibrosis. Conversely, Snai2 overexpression in the liver enhances hepatocyte replication and suppresses liver fibrosis after CCl4 treatment. These results suggest that hepatic Snai1 and Snai2 directly promote, via histone modifications, reparative hepatocyte replication and indirectly inhibit liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Wang
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, China; School of Chemical Engineering and Light Insulation, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Kang
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Wen-Shu Wu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UI Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Liangyou Rui
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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2
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Atsuta Y, Lee C, Rodrigues AR, Colle C, Tomizawa RR, Lujan EG, Tschopp P, Galan L, Zhu M, Gorham JM, Vannier JP, Seidman CE, Seidman JG, Ros MA, Pourquié O, Tabin CJ. Direct reprogramming of non-limb fibroblasts to cells with properties of limb progenitors. Dev Cell 2024; 59:415-430.e8. [PMID: 38320485 PMCID: PMC10932627 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The early limb bud consists of mesenchymal limb progenitors derived from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). The LPM also gives rise to the mesodermal components of the flank and neck. However, the cells at these other levels cannot produce the variety of cell types found in the limb. Taking advantage of a direct reprogramming approach, we find a set of factors (Prdm16, Zbtb16, and Lin28a) normally expressed in the early limb bud and capable of imparting limb progenitor-like properties to mouse non-limb fibroblasts. The reprogrammed cells show similar gene expression profiles and can differentiate into similar cell types as endogenous limb progenitors. The further addition of Lin41 potentiates the proliferation of the reprogrammed cells. These results suggest that these same four factors may play pivotal roles in the specification of endogenous limb progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Atsuta
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Biology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - ChangHee Lee
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Alan R Rodrigues
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Charlotte Colle
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Reiko R Tomizawa
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ernesto G Lujan
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patrick Tschopp
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Zoological Institute, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Galan
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN- Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Meng Zhu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua M Gorham
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Christine E Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan G Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marian A Ros
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN- Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Olivier Pourquié
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Clifford J Tabin
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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3
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Saitoh M. Transcriptional regulation of EMT transcription factors in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 97:21-29. [PMID: 37802266 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the processes by which epithelial cells transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells in the developmental stage, known as "complete EMT." In epithelial cancer, EMT, also termed "partial EMT," is associated with invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy, and is elicited by several transcription factors, frequently referred to as EMT transcription factors. Among these transcription factors that regulate EMT, ZEB1/2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), SNAIL, and TWIST play a prominent role in driving the EMT process (hereafter referred to as "EMT-TFs"). Among these, ZEB1/2 show positive correlation with both expression of mesenchymal marker proteins and the aggressiveness of various carcinomas. On the other hand, TWIST and SNAIL are also correlated with the aggressiveness of carcinomas, but are not highly correlated with mesenchymal marker protein expression. Interestingly, these EMT-TFs are not detected simultaneously in any studied cases of aggressive cancers, except for sarcoma. Thus, only one or some of the EMT-TFs are expressed at high levels in cells of aggressive carcinomas. Expression of EMT-TFs is regulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a well-established inducer of EMT, in cooperation with other signaling molecules, such as active RAS signals. The focus of this review is the molecular mechanisms by which EMT-TFs are transcriptionally sustained at sufficiently high levels in cells of aggressive carcinomas and upregulated by TGF-β during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masao Saitoh
- Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo-city, Yamanashi, Japan.
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4
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Sreenivas P, Wang L, Wang M, Challa A, Modi P, Hensch NR, Gryder B, Chou HC, Zhao XR, Sunkel B, Moreno-Campos R, Khan J, Stanton BZ, Ignatius MS. A SNAI2/CTCF Interaction is Required for NOTCH1 Expression in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cell Biol 2023; 43:547-565. [PMID: 37882064 PMCID: PMC10761179 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2023.2256640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric malignancy of the muscle with characteristics of cells blocked in differentiation. NOTCH1 is an oncogene that promotes self-renewal and blocks differentiation in the fusion negative-RMS sub-type. However, how NOTCH1 expression is transcriptionally maintained in tumors is unknown. Analyses of SNAI2 and CTCF chromatin binding and HiC analyses revealed a conserved SNAI2/CTCF overlapping peak downstream of the NOTCH1 locus marking a sub-topologically associating domain (TAD) boundary. Deletion of the SNAI2-CTCF peak showed that it is essential for NOTCH1 expression and viability of FN-RMS cells. Reintroducing constitutively activated NOTCH1-ΔE in cells with the SNAI2-CTCF peak deleted restored cell-viability. Ablation of SNAI2 using CRISPR/Cas9 reagents resulted in the loss of majority of RD and SMS-CTR FN-RMS cells. However, the few surviving clones that repopulate cultures have recovered NOTCH1. Cells that re-establish NOTCH1 expression after SNAI2 ablation are unable to differentiate robustly as SNAI2 shRNA knockdown cells; yet, SNAI2-ablated cells continued to be exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation. Thus, we have uncovered a novel mechanism by which SNAI2 and CTCF maintenance of a sub-TAD boundary promotes rather than represses NOTCH1 expression. Further, we demonstrate that SNAI2 suppression of apoptosis post-radiation is independent of SNAI2/NOTCH1 effects on self-renewal and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Anil Challa
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole Rae Hensch
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Berkley Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Xiang R. Zhao
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin Sunkel
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rodrigo Moreno-Campos
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin Z. Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Myron S. Ignatius
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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5
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Radhakrishnan K, Truong L, Carmichael CL. An "unexpected" role for EMT transcription factors in hematological development and malignancy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1207360. [PMID: 37600794 PMCID: PMC10435889 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1207360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental developmental process essential for normal embryonic development. It is also important during various pathogenic processes including fibrosis, wound healing and epithelial cancer cell metastasis and invasion. EMT is regulated by a variety of cell signalling pathways, cell-cell interactions and microenvironmental cues, however the key drivers of EMT are transcription factors of the ZEB, TWIST and SNAIL families. Recently, novel and unexpected roles for these EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs) during normal blood cell development have emerged, which appear to be largely independent of classical EMT processes. Furthermore, EMT-TFs have also begun to be implicated in the development and pathogenesis of malignant hematological diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, and now present themselves or the pathways they regulate as possible new therapeutic targets within these malignancies. In this review, we discuss the ZEB, TWIST and SNAIL families of EMT-TFs, focusing on what is known about their normal roles during hematopoiesis as well as the emerging and "unexpected" contribution they play during development and progression of blood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthika Radhakrishnan
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Lynda Truong
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Catherine L. Carmichael
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Monash University, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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6
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Losa M, Barozzi I, Osterwalder M, Hermosilla-Aguayo V, Morabito A, Chacón BH, Zarrineh P, Girdziusaite A, Benazet JD, Zhu J, Mackem S, Capellini TD, Dickel D, Bobola N, Zuniga A, Visel A, Zeller R, Selleri L. A spatio-temporally constrained gene regulatory network directed by PBX1/2 acquires limb patterning specificity via HAND2. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3993. [PMID: 37414772 PMCID: PMC10325989 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39443-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A lingering question in developmental biology has centered on how transcription factors with widespread distribution in vertebrate embryos can perform tissue-specific functions. Here, using the murine hindlimb as a model, we investigate the elusive mechanisms whereby PBX TALE homeoproteins, viewed primarily as HOX cofactors, attain context-specific developmental roles despite ubiquitous presence in the embryo. We first demonstrate that mesenchymal-specific loss of PBX1/2 or the transcriptional regulator HAND2 generates similar limb phenotypes. By combining tissue-specific and temporally controlled mutagenesis with multi-omics approaches, we reconstruct a gene regulatory network (GRN) at organismal-level resolution that is collaboratively directed by PBX1/2 and HAND2 interactions in subsets of posterior hindlimb mesenchymal cells. Genome-wide profiling of PBX1 binding across multiple embryonic tissues further reveals that HAND2 interacts with subsets of PBX-bound regions to regulate limb-specific GRNs. Our research elucidates fundamental principles by which promiscuous transcription factors cooperate with cofactors that display domain-restricted localization to instruct tissue-specific developmental programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Losa
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Institute for Human Genetics, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Orofacial Sciences and Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Viviana Hermosilla-Aguayo
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Institute for Human Genetics, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Orofacial Sciences and Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Angela Morabito
- Developmental Genetics, Department Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Brandon H Chacón
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Institute for Human Genetics, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Orofacial Sciences and Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Peyman Zarrineh
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ausra Girdziusaite
- Developmental Genetics, Department Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean Denis Benazet
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Institute for Human Genetics, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Orofacial Sciences and Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jianjian Zhu
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Susan Mackem
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Terence D Capellini
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Diane Dickel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nicoletta Bobola
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Aimée Zuniga
- Developmental Genetics, Department Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Rolf Zeller
- Developmental Genetics, Department Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Institute for Human Genetics, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Orofacial Sciences and Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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7
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Van Branteghem C, Augenlicht A, Demetter P, Craciun L, Maenhaut C. Unraveling the Roles of miR-204-5p and HMGA2 in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10764. [PMID: 37445942 PMCID: PMC10341554 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignant tumor with an increasing incidence rate. Although differentiated types of thyroid cancer generally present good clinical outcomes, some dedifferentiate into aggressive and lethal forms. However, the molecular mechanisms governing aggressiveness and dedifferentiation are still poorly understood. Aberrant expression of miRNAs is often correlated to tumor development, and miR-204-5p has previously been identified in papillary thyroid carcinoma as downregulated and associated with aggressiveness. This study aimed to explore its role in thyroid tumorigenesis. To address this, gain-of-function experiments were performed by transiently transfecting miR-204-5p in thyroid cancer cell lines. Then, the clinical relevance of our data was evaluated in vivo. We prove that this miRNA inhibits cell invasion by regulating several targets associated with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition, such as SNAI2, TGFBR2, SOX4 and HMGA2. HMGA2 expression is regulated by the MAPK pathway but not by the PI3K, IGF1R or TGFβ pathways, and the inhibition of cell invasion by miR-204-5p involves direct binding and repression of HMGA2. Finally, we confirmed in vivo the relationship between miR-204-5p and HMGA2 in human PTC and a corresponding mouse model. Our data suggest that HMGA2 inhibition offers promising perspectives for thyroid cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Van Branteghem
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.V.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Alice Augenlicht
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.V.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Pieter Demetter
- Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (P.D.); (L.C.)
| | - Ligia Craciun
- Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (P.D.); (L.C.)
| | - Carine Maenhaut
- Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.V.B.); (A.A.)
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8
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Huang H, Lu J, Aukhil I, Yu C, Bhut B, Marchesan J, Pirih F, Chang J. FBXO11 regulates bone development. Bone 2023; 170:116709. [PMID: 36863499 PMCID: PMC11008459 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2023.116709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
FBXO11 is the substrate-recognition component of a ubiquitin ligase complex called SKP1-cullin-F-boxes. The role of FBXO11 in bone development is unexplored. In this study, we reported a novel mechanism of how bone development is regulated by FBXO11. FBXO11 gene knockdown by lentiviral transduction in mouse pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells leads to reduced osteogenic differentiation, while overexpressing FBXO11 accelerates their osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, we generated two osteoblastic-specific FBXO11 conditional knockout mouse models, Col1a1-ERT2-FBXO11KO and Bglap2-FBXO11KO mice. In both conditional FBXO11KO mouse models, we found FBXO11 deficiency inhibits normal bone growth, in which the osteogenic activity in FBXO11cKO mice is reduced, while osteoclastic activity is not significantly changed. Mechanistically, we found FBXO11 deficiency leads to Snail1 protein accumulation in osteoblasts, leading to suppression of osteogenic activity and inhibition of bone matrix mineralization. FBXO11 knockdown in MC3T3-E1 cells reduced Snail1 protein ubiquitination and increased Snail1 protein accumulation in the cells, which eventually inhibited osteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, FBXO11 deficiency in osteoblasts inhibits bone formation through Snail1 accumulation, inhibiting osteogenic activity and bone mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Huang
- Department of Periodontology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jianrong Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ikramuddin Aukhil
- Department of Periodontology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Colton Yu
- Department of Periodontology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Brinda Bhut
- Department of Periodontology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Julie Marchesan
- Division of Comprehensive Oral Health, Periodontology, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Flavia Pirih
- Section of Periodontics, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jia Chang
- Department of Periodontology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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9
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Li D, Xia L, Huang P, Wang Z, Guo Q, Huang C, Leng W, Qin S. Heterogeneity and plasticity of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer metastasis: Focusing on partial EMT and regulatory mechanisms. Cell Prolif 2023:e13423. [PMID: 36808651 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) or mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) plays critical roles in cancer metastasis. Recent studies, especially those based on single-cell sequencing, have revealed that EMT is not a binary process, but a heterogeneous and dynamic disposition with intermediary or partial EMT states. Multiple double-negative feedback loops involved by EMT-related transcription factors (EMT-TFs) have been identified. These feedback loops between EMT drivers and MET drivers finely regulate the EMT transition state of the cell. In this review, the general characteristics, biomarkers and molecular mechanisms of different EMT transition states were summarized. We additionally discussed the direct and indirect roles of EMT transition state in tumour metastasis. More importantly, this article provides direct evidence that the heterogeneity of EMT is closely related to the poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Notably, a seesaw model was proposed to explain how tumour cells regulate themselves to remain in specific EMT transition states, including epithelial state, hybrid/intermediate state and mesenchymal state. Additionally, this article also provides a review of the current status, limitations and future perspectives of EMT signalling in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Academy of Bio-medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Lingyun Xia
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Pan Huang
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Academy of Bio-medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Zidi Wang
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Academy of Bio-medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Qiwei Guo
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Academy of Bio-medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Congcong Huang
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Academy of Bio-medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Weidong Leng
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Shanshan Qin
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Academy of Bio-medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
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10
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Gamart J, Barozzi I, Laurent F, Reinhardt R, Martins LR, Oberholzer T, Visel A, Zeller R, Zuniga A. SMAD4 target genes are part of a transcriptional network that integrates the response to BMP and SHH signaling during early limb bud patterning. Development 2021; 148:273522. [PMID: 34822715 PMCID: PMC8714076 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
SMAD4 regulates gene expression in response to BMP and TGFβ signal transduction, and is required for diverse morphogenetic processes, but its target genes have remained largely elusive. Here, we identify the SMAD4 target genes in mouse limb buds using an epitope-tagged Smad4 allele for ChIP-seq analysis in combination with transcription profiling. This analysis shows that SMAD4 predominantly mediates BMP signal transduction during early limb bud development. Unexpectedly, the expression of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes is precociously downregulated and intracellular cholesterol levels are reduced in Smad4-deficient limb bud mesenchymal progenitors. Most importantly, our analysis reveals a predominant function of SMAD4 in upregulating target genes in the anterior limb bud mesenchyme. Analysis of differentially expressed genes shared between Smad4- and Shh-deficient limb buds corroborates this function of SMAD4 and also reveals the repressive effect of SMAD4 on posterior genes that are upregulated in response to SHH signaling. This analysis uncovers opposing trans-regulatory inputs from SHH- and SMAD4-mediated BMP signal transduction on anterior and posterior gene expression during the digit patterning and outgrowth in early limb buds. Summary: The transcriptional targets of SMAD4 in early limb buds are identified and the largely opposing impact of BMP and SHH signaling on early digit patterning and outgrowth is revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Gamart
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Functional Genomics Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Frédéric Laurent
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Robert Reinhardt
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laurène Ramos Martins
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Oberholzer
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Axel Visel
- Functional Genomics Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.,US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA.,School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Rolf Zeller
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aimée Zuniga
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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11
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Fang JS, Hultgren NW, Hughes CCW. Regulation of Partial and Reversible Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Angiogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:702021. [PMID: 34692672 PMCID: PMC8529039 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.702021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During development and in several diseases, endothelial cells (EC) can undergo complete endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT or EndMT) to generate endothelial-derived mesenchymal cells. Emerging evidence suggests that ECs can also undergo a partial EndoMT to generate cells with intermediate endothelial- and mesenchymal-character. This partial EndoMT event is transient, reversible, and supports both developmental and pathological angiogenesis. Here, we discuss possible regulatory mechanisms that may control the EndoMT program to dictate whether cells undergo complete or partial mesenchymal transition, and we further consider how these pathways might be targeted therapeutically in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S. Fang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Nan W. Hultgren
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christopher C. W. Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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12
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Razmara E, Bitaraf A, Karimi B, Babashah S. Functions of the SNAI family in chondrocyte-to-osteocyte development. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1503:5-22. [PMID: 34403146 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Different cellular mechanisms contribute to osteocyte development. And while critical roles for members of the zinc finger protein SNAI family (SNAIs) have been discussed in cancer-related models, there are few reviews summarizing their importance for chondrocyte-to-osteocyte development. To help fill this gap, we review the roles of SNAIs in the development of mature osteocytes from chondrocytes, including the regulation of chondro- and osteogenesis through different signaling pathways and in programmed cell death. We also discuss how epigenetic factors-including DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation, and noncoding RNAs-contribute differently to both chondrocyte and osteocyte development. To better grasp the important roles of SNAIs in bone development, we also review genotype-phenotype correlations in different animal models. We end with comments about the possible importance of the SNAI family in cartilage/bone development and the potential applications for therapeutic goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Razmara
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amirreza Bitaraf
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnaz Karimi
- Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Babashah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Subbalakshmi AR, Sahoo S, Biswas K, Jolly MK. A Computational Systems Biology Approach Identifies SLUG as a Mediator of Partial Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 211:689-702. [PMID: 33567424 DOI: 10.1159/000512520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity comprises reversible transitions among epithelial, hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) and mesenchymal phenotypes, and underlies various aspects of aggressive tumor progression such as metastasis, therapy resistance, and immune evasion. The process of cells attaining one or more hybrid E/M phenotypes is termed as partial epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cells in hybrid E/M phenotype(s) can be more aggressive than those in either fully epithelial or mesenchymal state. Thus, identifying regulators of hybrid E/M phenotypes is essential to decipher the rheostats of phenotypic plasticity and consequent accelerators of metastasis. Here, using a computational systems biology approach, we demonstrate that SLUG (SNAIL2) - an EMT-inducing transcription factor - can inhibit cells from undergoing a complete EMT and thus stabilize them in hybrid E/M phenotype(s). It expands the parametric range enabling the existence of a hybrid E/M phenotype, thereby behaving as a phenotypic stability factor. Our simulations suggest that this specific property of SLUG emerges from the topology of the regulatory network it forms with other key regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. Clinical data suggest that SLUG associates with worse patient prognosis across multiple carcinomas. Together, our results indicate that SLUG can stabilize hybrid E/M phenotype(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayalur R Subbalakshmi
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Sarthak Sahoo
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Kuheli Biswas
- Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India,
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14
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Cheng YH, Liu SF, Dong JC, Bian Q. Transcriptomic alterations underline aging of osteogenic bone marrow stromal cells. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:128-138. [PMID: 33584984 PMCID: PMC7859986 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i1.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multipotent bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are adult stem cells that form functional osteoblasts and play a critical role in bone remodeling. During aging, an increase in bone loss and reduction in structural integrity lead to osteoporosis and result in an increased risk of fracture. We examined age-dependent histological changes in murine vertebrae and uncovered that bone loss begins as early as the age of 1 mo.
AIM To identify the functional alterations and transcriptomic dynamics of BMSCs during early bone loss.
METHODS We collected BMSCs from mice at early to middle ages and compared their self-renewal and differentiation potential. Subsequently, we obtained the transcriptomic profiles of BMSCs at 1 mo, 3 mo, and 7 mo.
RESULTS The colony-forming and osteogenic commitment capacity showed a comparable finding that decreased at the age of 1 mo. The transcriptomic analysis showed the enrichment of osteoblastic regulation genes at 1 mo and loss of osteogenic features at 3 mo. The BMSCs at 7 mo showed enrichment of adipogenic and DNA repair features. Moreover, we demonstrated that the WNT and MAPK signaling pathways were upregulated at 1 mo, followed by increased pro-inflammatory and apoptotic features.
CONCLUSION Our study uncovered the cellular and molecular dynamics of bone aging in mice and demonstrated the contribution of BMSCs to the early stage of age-related bone loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hao Cheng
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Shu-Fen Liu
- Institute of Spine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Jing-Cheng Dong
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Qin Bian
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
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15
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Yastrebova MA, Khamidullina AI, Tatarskiy VV, Scherbakov AM. Snail-Family Proteins: Role in Carcinogenesis and Prospects for Antitumor Therapy. Acta Naturae 2021; 13:76-90. [PMID: 33959388 PMCID: PMC8084295 DOI: 10.32607/actanaturae.11062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The review analyzes Snail family proteins, which are transcription factors involved in the regulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells. We describe the structure of these proteins, their post-translational modification, and the mechanisms of Snail-dependent regulation of genes. The role of Snail proteins in carcinogenesis, invasion, and metastasis is analyzed. Furthermore, we focus on EMT signaling mechanisms involving Snail proteins. Next, we dissect Snail signaling in hypoxia, a condition that complicates anticancer treatment. Finally, we offer classes of chemical compounds capable of down-regulating the transcriptional activity of Snails. Given the important role of Snail proteins in cancer biology and the potential for pharmacological inhibition, Snail family proteins may be considered promising as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Yastrebova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
| | - A. I. Khamidullina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
| | - V. V. Tatarskiy
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, 115478 Russia
| | - A. M. Scherbakov
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, 115478 Russia
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16
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Slug regulates the Dll4-Notch-VEGFR2 axis to control endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5400. [PMID: 33106502 PMCID: PMC7588439 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18633-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Slug (SNAI2), a member of the well-conserved Snail family of transcription factors, has multiple developmental roles, including in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we show that Slug is critical for the pathological angiogenesis needed to sustain tumor growth, and transiently necessary for normal developmental angiogenesis. We find that Slug upregulation in angiogenic endothelial cells (EC) regulates an EMT-like suite of target genes, and suppresses Dll4-Notch signaling thereby promoting VEGFR2 expression. Both EC-specific Slug re-expression and reduced Notch signaling, either by γ-secretase inhibition or loss of Dll4, rescue retinal angiogenesis in SlugKO mice. Conversely, inhibition of VEGF signaling prevents excessive angiogenic sprouting of Slug overexpressing EC. Finally, endothelial Slug (but not Snail) is activated by the pro-angiogenic factor SDF1α via its canonical receptor CXCR4 and the MAP kinase ERK5. Altogether, our data support a critical role for Slug in determining the angiogenic response during development and disease. Slug supports heart development and tumor metastasis, but its role in blood vessel formation is less clear. Here the authors show that endothelial cell-expressed Slug regulates both physiologic and pathological angiogenesis, at least in part through the modulation of Notch signalling.
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17
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Blanco-Gómez A, Hontecillas-Prieto L, Corchado-Cobos R, García-Sancha N, Salvador N, Castellanos-Martín A, Sáez-Freire MDM, Mendiburu-Eliçabe M, Alonso-López D, De Las Rivas J, Lorente M, García-Casas A, Del Carmen S, Abad-Hernández MDM, Cruz-Hernández JJ, Rodríguez-Sánchez CA, Claros-Ampuero J, García-Cenador B, García-Criado J, Orimo A, Gridley T, Pérez-Losada J, Castillo-Lluva S. Stromal SNAI2 Is Required for ERBB2 Breast Cancer Progression. Cancer Res 2020; 80:5216-5230. [PMID: 33023950 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-0278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
SNAI2 overexpression appears to be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer, yet it remains unclear in which breast cancer subtypes this occurs. Here we show that excess SNAI2 is associated with a poor prognosis of luminal B HER2+/ERBB2+ breast cancers in which SNAI2 expression in the stroma but not the epithelium correlates with tumor proliferation. To determine how stromal SNAI2 might influence HER2+ tumor behavior, Snai2-deficient mice were crossed with a mouse line carrying the ErbB2/Neu protooncogene to generate HER2+/ERBB2+ breast cancer. Tumors generated in this model expressed SNAI2 in the stroma but not the epithelium, allowing for the role of stromal SNAI2 to be studied without interference from the epithelial compartment. The absence of SNAI2 in the stroma of HER2+/ERBB2+ tumors is associated with: (i) lower levels of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and reduced tumor epithelium proliferation; (ii) higher levels of AKT and a lower incidence of metastasis; (iii) lower levels of angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2), and more necrosis. Together, these results indicate that the loss of SNAI2 in cancer-associated fibroblasts limits the production of some cytokines, which influences AKT/ERK tumor signaling and subsequent proliferative and metastatic capacity of ERBB2+ breast cancer cells. Accordingly, SNAI2 expression in the stroma enhanced the tumorigenicity of luminal B HER2+/ERBB2+ breast cancers. This work emphasizes the importance of stromal SNAI2 in breast cancer progression and patients' prognosis. SIGNIFICANCE: Stromal SNAI2 expression enhances the tumorigenicity of luminal B HER2+ breast cancers and can identify a subset of patients with poor prognosis, making SNAI2 a potential therapeutic target for this disease. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/23/5216/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Blanco-Gómez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Lourdes Hontecillas-Prieto
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Roberto Corchado-Cobos
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Natalia García-Sancha
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nélida Salvador
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrés Castellanos-Martín
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - María Del Mar Sáez-Freire
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marina Mendiburu-Eliçabe
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Diego Alonso-López
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier De Las Rivas
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mar Lorente
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana García-Casas
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sofía Del Carmen
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - María Del Mar Abad-Hernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Juan Jesús Cruz-Hernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.,Servicio de Oncología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - César Augusto Rodríguez-Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.,Servicio de Oncología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Begoña García-Cenador
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier García-Criado
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas Gridley
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine
| | - Jesús Pérez-Losada
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC-CIC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Salamanca, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sonia Castillo-Lluva
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
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18
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Sterneck E, Poria DK, Balamurugan K. Slug and E-Cadherin: Stealth Accomplices? Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:138. [PMID: 32760736 PMCID: PMC7371942 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During physiological epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is important for embryogenesis and wound healing, epithelial cells activate a program to remodel their structure and achieve a mesenchymal fate. In cancer cells, EMT confers increased invasiveness and tumor-initiating capacity, which contribute to metastasis and resistance to therapeutics. However, cellular plasticity that navigates between epithelial and mesenchymal states and maintenance of a hybrid or partial E/M phenotype appears to be even more important for cancer progression. Besides other core EMT transcription factors, the well-characterized Snail-family proteins Snail (SNAI1) and Slug (SNAI2) play important roles in both physiological and pathological EMT. Often mentioned in unison, they do, however, differ in their functions in many scenarios. Indeed, Slug expression does not always correlate with complete EMT or loss of E-cadherin (CDH1). For example, Slug plays important roles in mammary epithelial cell progenitor cell lineage commitment and differentiation, DNA damage responses, hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, and in pathologies such as pulmonary fibrosis and atherosclerosis. In this Perspective, we highlight Slug functions in mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer as a “non-EMT factor” in basal epithelial cells and stem cells with focus reports that demonstrate co-expression of Slug and E-cadherin. We speculate that Slug and E-cadherin may cooperate in normal mammary gland and breast cancer/stem cells and advocate for functional assessment of such Slug+/E-cadherinlow/+ (SNAI2+/CDH1low/+) “basal-like epithelial” cells. Thus, Slug may be regarded as less of an EMT factor than driver of the basal epithelial cell phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esta Sterneck
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Dipak K Poria
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Kuppusamy Balamurugan
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
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19
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Micati DJ, Radhakrishnan K, Young JC, Rajpert‐De Meyts E, Hime GR, Abud HE, Loveland KL. ‘Snail factors in testicular germ cell tumours and their regulation by the BMP4 signalling pathway’. Andrology 2020; 8:1456-1470. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana J. Micati
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Karthika Radhakrishnan
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Julia C. Young
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Ewa Rajpert‐De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Gary R. Hime
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Helen E. Abud
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Stem Cells and Development Program Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Kate L. Loveland
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
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20
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Wei Q, Nakahara F, Asada N, Zhang D, Gao X, Xu C, Alfieri A, Brodin NP, Zimmerman SE, Mar JC, Guha C, Guo W, Frenette PS. Snai2 Maintains Bone Marrow Niche Cells by Repressing Osteopontin Expression. Dev Cell 2020; 53:503-513.e5. [PMID: 32413329 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells (MSPCs) are a critical constituent of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche. Previous studies have suggested that the zinc-finger epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcription factor Snai2 (also known as Slug) regulated HSCs autonomously. Here, we show that Snai2 expression in the BM is restricted to the BM stromal compartment where it regulates the HSC niche. Germline or MSPC-selective Snai2 deletion reduces the functional MSPC pool and their mesenchymal lineage output and impairs HSC niche function during homeostasis and after stress. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that Spp1 (osteopontin) expression is markedly upregulated in Snai2-deficient MSPCs. Genetic deletion of Spp1 in Snai2-deficient mice rescues MSPCs' functions. Thus, SNAI2 is a critical regulator of the transcriptional network maintaining MSPCs by the suppression of osteopontin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaozhi Wei
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Fumio Nakahara
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Noboru Asada
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Dachuan Zhang
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Xin Gao
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Chunliang Xu
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Alan Alfieri
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - N Patrik Brodin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Samuel E Zimmerman
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jessica C Mar
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Chandan Guha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Wenjun Guo
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Paul S Frenette
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA.
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21
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Weinstein N, Mendoza L, Álvarez-Buylla ER. A Computational Model of the Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition. Front Genet 2020; 11:40. [PMID: 32226439 PMCID: PMC7080988 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) form the lining of lymph and blood vessels. Changes in tissue requirements or wounds may cause ECs to behave as tip or stalk cells. Alternatively, they may differentiate into mesenchymal cells (MCs). These processes are known as EC activation and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), respectively. EndMT, Tip, and Stalk EC behaviors all require SNAI1, SNAI2, and Matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) function. However, only EndMT inhibits the expression of VE-cadherin, PECAM1, and VEGFR2, and also leads to EC detachment. Physiologically, EndMT is involved in heart valve development, while a defective EndMT regulation is involved in the physiopathology of cardiovascular malformations, congenital heart disease, systemic and organ fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Therefore, the control of EndMT has many promising potential applications in regenerative medicine. Despite the fact that many molecular components involved in EC activation and EndMT have been characterized, the system-level molecular mechanisms involved in this process have not been elucidated. Toward this end, hereby we present Boolean network model of the molecular involved in the regulation of EC activation and EndMT. The simulated dynamic behavior of our model reaches fixed and cyclic patterns of activation that correspond to the expected EC and MC cell types and behaviors, recovering most of the specific effects of simple gain and loss-of-function mutations as well as the conditions associated with the progression of several diseases. Therefore, our model constitutes a theoretical framework that can be used to generate hypotheses and guide experimental inquiry to comprehend the regulatory mechanisms behind EndMT. Our main findings include that both the extracellular microevironment and the pattern of molecular activity within the cell regulate EndMT. EndMT requires a lack of VEGFA and sufficient oxygen in the extracellular microenvironment as well as no FLI1 and GATA2 activity within the cell. Additionally Tip cells cannot undergo EndMT directly. Furthermore, the specific conditions that are sufficient to trigger EndMT depend on the specific pattern of molecular activation within the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Weinstein
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis Mendoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elena R Álvarez-Buylla
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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22
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Zhu P, Zhang C, Gao Y, Wu F, Zhou Y, Wu WS. The transcription factor Slug represses p16 Ink4a and regulates murine muscle stem cell aging. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2568. [PMID: 31189923 PMCID: PMC6561969 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of the p16Ink4a-associated senescence pathway during aging breaks muscle homeostasis and causes degenerative muscle disease by irreversibly dampening satellite cell (SC) self-renewal capacity. Here, we report that the zinc-finger transcription factor Slug is highly expressed in quiescent SCs of mice and functions as a direct transcriptional repressor of p16Ink4a. Loss of Slug promotes derepression of p16Ink4a in SCs and accelerates the entry of SCs into a fully senescent state upon damage-induced stress. p16Ink4a depletion partially rescues defects in Slug-deficient SCs. Furthermore, reduced Slug expression is accompanied by p16Ink4a accumulation in aged SCs. Slug overexpression ameliorates aged muscle regeneration by enhancing SC self-renewal through active repression of p16Ink4a transcription. Our results identify a cell-autonomous mechanism underlying functional defects of SCs at advanced age. As p16Ink4a dysregulation is the chief cause for regenerative defects of human geriatric SCs, these findings highlight Slug as a potential therapeutic target for aging-associated degenerative muscle disease. Muscle regeneration depends on self-renewal of muscle stem cells but how this is regulated on aging is unclear. Here, the authors identify Slug as regulating p16Ink4a in quiescent muscle stem cells, and when Slug expression reduces in aged stem cells, p16Ink4a accumulates, causing regenerative defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhu
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Chunping Zhang
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Yongxing Gao
- Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Furen Wu
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Yalu Zhou
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Wen-Shu Wu
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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23
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Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) are expressed throughout all stages of skeletal development. In the limb bud and in cranial mesenchyme, FGF signaling is important for formation of mesenchymal condensations that give rise to bone. Once skeletal elements are initiated and patterned, FGFs regulate both endochondral and intramembranous ossification programs. In this chapter, we review functions of the FGF signaling pathway during these critical stages of skeletogenesis, and explore skeletal malformations in humans that are caused by mutations in FGF signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Ornitz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
| | - Pierre J Marie
- UMR-1132 Inserm (Institut national de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) and University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
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24
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Non-redundant functions of EMT transcription factors. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:102-112. [PMID: 30602760 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-018-0196-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial embryonic programme that is executed by various EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs) and is aberrantly activated in cancer and other diseases. However, the causal role of EMT and EMT-TFs in different disease processes, especially cancer and metastasis, continues to be debated. In this Review, we identify and describe specific, non-redundant functions of the different EMT-TFs and discuss the reasons that may underlie disputes about EMT in cancer.
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25
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Nakamura R, Ishii H, Endo K, Hotta A, Fujii E, Miyazawa K, Saitoh M. Reciprocal expression of Slug and Snail in human oral cancer cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199442. [PMID: 29969465 PMCID: PMC6029773 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Snail, also called Snai1, is a key regulator of EMT. Snail plays crucial roles in cancer progression, including resistance to anti-tumor drugs and invasion by various cancer cells. Slug, also known as Snai2, is also involved in the aggravation of certain tumors. In this study, we examined the roles of Slug in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. Slug is highly expressed in these cells, and Slug siRNA effectively represses anti-tumor drug resistance and invasive properties. In addition, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β upregulates the expression of Snail and Slug and promotes resistance to anti-tumor drugs in OSCC cells. Surprisingly, Slug siRNA appears to upregulate Snail expression considerably in OSCC cells. Snail siRNA also appears to upregulate Slug expression. Thus, either Slug or Snail siRNA alone partially mitigates malignant phenotypes in the presence of TGF-β, whereas both Slug and Snail siRNAs together dramatically suppress them. Therefore, Slug and Snail in tandem, but not alone, are potential therapeutic targets for nucleic acid medicines to treat oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Nakamura
- Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ishii
- Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kaori Endo
- Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Asami Hotta
- Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Eiji Fujii
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kofu Municipal Hospital, Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Keiji Miyazawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masao Saitoh
- Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
- * E-mail:
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26
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Micati DJ, Hime GR, McLaughlin EA, Abud HE, Loveland KL. Differential expression profiles of conserved Snail transcription factors in the mouse testis. Andrology 2018; 6:362-373. [PMID: 29381885 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 10/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Snail transcription factors are key regulators of cellular transitions during embryonic development and tumorigenesis. The closely related SNAI1 and SNAI2 proteins induce epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), acting predominantly as transcriptional repressors, while the functions of SNAI3 are unknown. An initial examination of Snai2-deficient mice provided evidence of deficient spermatogenesis. To address the hypothesis that Snail proteins are important for male fertility, this study provides the first comprehensive cellular expression profiles of all three mammalian Snail genes in the post-natal mouse testis. To evaluate Snail transcript expression profiles, droplet digital (dd) PCR and in situ hybridization were employed. Snai1, 2 and 3 transcripts are readily detected at 7, 14, 28 days post-partum (dpp) and 7 weeks (adult). Unique cellular expression was demonstrated for each by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry using Western blot-validated antibodies. SNAI1 and SNAI2 are in the nucleus of the most mature germ cell types at post-natal ages 10, 15 and 26. SNAI3 is only detected from 15 dpp onwards and is localized in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm. In the adult testis, Snai1 and Snai2 transcripts are detected in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, while Snai3 is in both germ and Sertoli cells. SNAI1 protein is evident in nuclei of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongated spermatids (Stages IX-XII). SNAI2 is present in the nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, with a faint signal detected in round spermatids. SNAI3 was detected only in Sertoli cell cytoplasm, as in juvenile testes. Additionally, colocalization of SNAI1 and SNAI2 with previously identified key binding partners, LSD1 and PRC2 complex components, provides strong evidence that these important functional interactions are conserved during spermatogenesis to control gene activity. These distinct expression profiles suggest that each Snail family member has unique functions during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Micati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - G R Hime
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - E A McLaughlin
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - H E Abud
- Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - K L Loveland
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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27
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Genes uniquely expressed in human growth plate chondrocytes uncover a distinct regulatory network. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:983. [PMID: 29262782 PMCID: PMC5738906 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4378-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chondrogenesis is the earliest stage of skeletal development and is a highly dynamic process, integrating the activities and functions of transcription factors, cell signaling molecules and extracellular matrix proteins. The molecular mechanisms underlying chondrogenesis have been extensively studied and multiple key regulators of this process have been identified. However, a genome-wide overview of the gene regulatory network in chondrogenesis has not been achieved. Results In this study, employing RNA sequencing, we identified 332 protein coding genes and 34 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes that are highly selectively expressed in human fetal growth plate chondrocytes. Among the protein coding genes, 32 genes were associated with 62 distinct human skeletal disorders and 153 genes were associated with skeletal defects in knockout mice, confirming their essential roles in skeletal formation. These gene products formed a comprehensive physical interaction network and participated in multiple cellular processes regulating skeletal development. The data also revealed 34 transcription factors and 11,334 distal enhancers that were uniquely active in chondrocytes, functioning as transcriptional regulators for the cartilage-selective genes. Conclusions Our findings revealed a complex gene regulatory network controlling skeletal development whereby transcription factors, enhancers and lncRNAs participate in chondrogenesis by transcriptional regulation of key genes. Additionally, the cartilage-selective genes represent candidate genes for unsolved human skeletal disorders. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4378-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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28
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Wang JS, Infante CR, Park S, Menke DB. PITX1 promotes chondrogenesis and myogenesis in mouse hindlimbs through conserved regulatory targets. Dev Biol 2017; 434:186-195. [PMID: 29273440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The PITX1 transcription factor is expressed during hindlimb development, where it plays a critical role in directing hindlimb growth and the specification of hindlimb morphology. While it is known that PITX1 regulates hindlimb formation, in part, through activation of the Tbx4 gene, other transcriptional targets remain to be elucidated. We have used a combination of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq to investigate enhancer regions and target genes that are directly regulated by PITX1 in embryonic mouse hindlimbs. In addition, we have analyzed PITX1 binding sites in hindlimbs of Anolis lizards to identify ancient PITX1 regulatory targets. We find that PITX1-bound regions in both mouse and Anolis hindlimbs are strongly associated with genes implicated in limb and skeletal system development. Gene expression analyses reveal a large number of misexpressed genes in the hindlimbs of Pitx1-/- mouse embryos. By intersecting misexpressed genes with genes that have neighboring mouse PITX1 binding sites, we identified 440 candidate targets of PITX1. Of these candidates, 68 exhibit ultra-conserved PITX1 binding events that are shared between mouse and Anolis hindlimbs. Among the ancient targets of PITX1 are important regulators of cartilage and skeletal muscle development, including Sox9 and Six1. Our data suggest that PITX1 promotes chondrogenesis and myogenesis in the hindlimb by direct regulation of several key members of the cartilage and muscle transcriptional networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialiang S Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Carlos R Infante
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Sungdae Park
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Douglas B Menke
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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29
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Tang Y, Weiss SJ. Snail/Slug-YAP/TAZ complexes cooperatively regulate mesenchymal stem cell function and bone formation. Cell Cycle 2017; 16:399-405. [PMID: 28112996 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1280643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Snail and Slug are zinc-finger transcription factors that play key roles in directing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) programs associated with normal development as well as disease progression. More recent work suggests that these EMT-associated transcription factors also modulate the function of both embryonic and adult stem cells. Interestingly, YAP and TAZ, the co-transcriptional effectors of the Hippo pathway, likewise play an important role in stem cell self-renewal and lineage commitment. While direct intersections between the Snail/Slug and Hippo pathways have not been described previously, we recently described an unexpected cooperative interaction between Snail/Slug and YAP/TAZ that controls the self-renewal and differentiation properties of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a cell population critical to bone development. Additional studies revealed that both Snail and Slug are able to form binary complexes with either YAP or TAZ that, together, control YAP/TAZ transcriptional activity and function throughout mouse development. Given the more recent observations that MSC-like cell populations are found in association throughout the vasculature where they participate in tissue regeneration, fibrosis and cancer, the Snail/Slug-YAP/TAZ axis is well-positioned to regulate global stem cell function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Tang
- a Division of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Stephen J Weiss
- a Division of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
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30
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Liu CF, Samsa WE, Zhou G, Lefebvre V. Transcriptional control of chondrocyte specification and differentiation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 62:34-49. [PMID: 27771362 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A milestone in the evolutionary emergence of vertebrates was the invention of cartilage, a tissue that has key roles in modeling, protecting and complementing the bony skeleton. Cartilage is elaborated and maintained by chondrocytes. These cells derive from multipotent skeletal progenitors and they perform highly specialized functions as they proceed through sequential lineage commitment and differentiation steps. They form cartilage primordia, the primary skeleton of the embryo. They then transform these primordia either into cartilage growth plates, temporary drivers of skeletal elongation and endochondral ossification, or into permanent tissues, namely articular cartilage. Chondrocyte fate decisions and differentiated activities are controlled by numerous extrinsic and intrinsic cues, and they are implemented at the gene expression level by transcription factors. The latter are the focus of this review. Meritorious efforts from many research groups have led over the last two decades to the identification of dozens of key chondrogenic transcription factors. These regulators belong to all types of transcription factor families. Some have master roles at one or several differentiation steps. They include SOX9 and RUNX2/3. Others decisively assist or antagonize the activities of these masters. They include TWIST1, SOX5/6, and MEF2C/D. Many more have tissue-patterning roles and regulate cell survival, proliferation and the pace of cell differentiation. They include, but are not limited to, homeodomain-containing proteins and growth factor signaling mediators. We here review current knowledge of all these factors, one superclass, class, and family at a time. We then compile all knowledge into transcriptional networks. We also identify remaining gaps in knowledge and directions for future research to fill these gaps and thereby provide novel insights into cartilage disease mechanisms and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Feng Liu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - William E Samsa
- Department of Orthopaedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Guang Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Véronique Lefebvre
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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31
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Snail/Slug binding interactions with YAP/TAZ control skeletal stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Nat Cell Biol 2016; 18:917-29. [PMID: 27479603 PMCID: PMC5007193 DOI: 10.1038/ncb3394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Bone marrow-derived skeletal stem/stromal cell (SSC) self-renewal and function are critical to skeletal development, homeostasis and repair. Nevertheless, the mechanisms controlling SSC behavior, particularly bone formation, remain ill-defined. Using knockout mouse models that target the zinc-finger transcription factors, Snail, Slug or Snail and Slug combined, a regulatory axis has been uncovered wherein Snail and Slug cooperatively control SSC self-renewal, osteoblastogenesis and bone formation. Mechanistically, Snail/Slug regulate SSC function by forming complexes with the transcriptional co-activators, YAP and TAZ, in tandem with the inhibition of the Hippo pathway-dependent regulation of YAP/TAZ signaling cascades. In turn, the Snail/Slug-YAP/TAZ axis activates a series of YAP/TAZ/TEAD and Runx2 downstream targets that control SSC homeostasis and osteogenesis. Together, these results demonstrate that SSCs mobilize Snail/Slug-YAP/TAZ complexes to control stem cell function.
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32
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Ramat A, Audibert A, Louvet-Vallée S, Simon F, Fichelson P, Gho M. Escargot and Scratch regulate neural commitment by antagonizing Notch activity in Drosophila sensory organs. Development 2016; 143:3024-34. [PMID: 27471258 DOI: 10.1242/dev.134387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
During Notch (N)-mediated binary cell fate decisions, cells adopt two different fates according to the levels of N pathway activation: an Noff-dependent or an Non-dependent fate. How cells maintain these N activity levels over time remains largely unknown. We address this question in the cell lineage that gives rise to the Drosophila mechanosensory organs. In this lineage a primary precursor cell undergoes a stereotyped sequence of oriented asymmetric cell divisions and transits through two neural precursor states before acquiring a neuron identity. Using a combination of genetic and cell biology strategies, we show that Escargot and Scratch, two transcription factors belonging to the Snail superfamily, maintain Noff neural commitment by directly blocking the transcription of N target genes. We propose that Snail factors act by displacing proneural transcription activators from DNA binding sites. As such, Snail factors maintain the Noff state in neural precursor cells by buffering any ectopic variation in the level of N activity. Since Escargot and Scratch orthologs are present in other precursor cells, our findings are fundamental for understanding precursor cell fate acquisition in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Ramat
- CNRS, UMR 7622, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, IBPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Agnès Audibert
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR7622, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Sophie Louvet-Vallée
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR7622, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Françoise Simon
- CNRS, UMR 7622, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, IBPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Pierre Fichelson
- CNRS, UMR 7622, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, IBPS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Michel Gho
- CNRS, UMR 7622, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, IBPS, Paris F-75005, France
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33
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Robust bioengineered 3D functional human intestinal epithelium. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13708. [PMID: 26374193 PMCID: PMC4571649 DOI: 10.1038/srep13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal functions are central to human physiology, health and disease. Options to study these functions with direct relevance to the human condition remain severely limited when using conventional cell cultures, microfluidic systems, organoids, animal surrogates or human studies. To replicate in vitro the tissue architecture and microenvironments of native intestine, we developed a 3D porous protein scaffolding system, containing a geometrically-engineered hollow lumen, with adaptability to both large and small intestines. These intestinal tissues demonstrated representative human responses by permitting continuous accumulation of mucous secretions on the epithelial surface, establishing low oxygen tension in the lumen, and interacting with gut-colonizing bacteria. The newly developed 3D intestine model enabled months-long sustained access to these intestinal functions in vitro, readily integrable with a multitude of different organ mimics and will therefore ensure a reliable ex vivo tissue system for studies in a broad context of human intestinal diseases and treatments.
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34
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Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways are essential regulators of vertebrate skeletal development. FGF signaling regulates development of the limb bud and formation of the mesenchymal condensation and has key roles in regulating chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and bone and mineral homeostasis. This review updates our review on FGFs in skeletal development published in Genes & Development in 2002, examines progress made on understanding the functions of the FGF signaling pathway during critical stages of skeletogenesis, and explores the mechanisms by which mutations in FGF signaling molecules cause skeletal malformations in humans. Links between FGF signaling pathways and other interacting pathways that are critical for skeletal development and could be exploited to treat genetic diseases and repair bone are also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Ornitz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Pierre J Marie
- UMR-1132, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Hopital Lariboisiere, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France
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Tsang KY, Tsang SW, Chan D, Cheah KSE. The chondrocytic journey in endochondral bone growth and skeletal dysplasia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 102:52-73. [PMID: 24677723 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.21060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The endochondral bones of the skeleton develop from a cartilage template and grow via a process involving a cascade of chondrocyte differentiation steps culminating in formation of a growth plate and the replacement of cartilage by bone. This process of endochondral ossification, driven by the generation of chondrocytes and their subsequent proliferation, differentiation, and production of extracellular matrix constitute a journey, deviation from which inevitably disrupts bone growth and development, and is the basis of human skeletal dysplasias with a wide range of phenotypic severity, from perinatal lethality to progressively deforming. This highly coordinated journey of chondrocyte specification and fate determination is controlled by a myriad of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. SOX9 is the master transcription factor that, in concert with varying partners along the way, directs the different phases of the journey from mesenchymal condensation, chondrogenesis, differentiation, proliferation, and maturation. Extracellular signals, including bone morphogenetic proteins, wingless-related MMTV integration site (WNT), fibroblast growth factor, Indian hedgehog, and parathyroid hormone-related peptide, are all indispensable for growth plate chondrocytes to align and organize into the appropriate columnar architecture and controls their maturation and transition to hypertrophy. Chondrocyte hypertrophy, marked by dramatic volume increase in phases, is controlled by transcription factors SOX9, Runt-related transcription factor, and FOXA2. Hypertrophic chondrocytes mediate the cartilage to bone transition and concomitantly face a live-or-die situation, a subject of much debate. We review recent insights into the coordination of the phases of the chondrocyte journey, and highlight the need for a systems level understanding of the regulatory networks that will facilitate the development of therapeutic approaches for skeletal dysplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok Yeung Tsang
- Department of Biochemistry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
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36
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Pioli PD, Chen X, Weis JJ, Weis JH. Fatal autoimmunity results from the conditional deletion of Snai2 and Snai3. Cell Immunol 2015; 295:1-18. [PMID: 25732600 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2015.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation of gene expression is a key component of orchestrating proper immune cell development and function. One strategy for maintaining these transcriptional programs has been the evolution of transcription factor families with members possessing overlapping functions. Using the germ line deletion of Snai2 combined with the hematopoietic specific deletion of Snai3, we report that these factors function redundantly to preserve the development of B and T cells. Such animals display severe lymphopenia, alopecia and dermatitis as well as profound autoimmunity manifested by the production of high levels of autoantibodies as early as 3 weeks of age and die by 30 days after birth. Autoantibodies included both IgM and IgG isotypes and were reactive against cytoplasmic and membranous components. A regulatory T cell defect contributed to the autoimmune response in that adoptive transfer of wild type regulatory T cells alleviated symptoms of autoimmunity. Additionally, transplantation of Snai2/Snai3 double deficient bone marrow into Snai2 sufficient Rag2(-/-) recipients resulted in autoantibody generation. The results demonstrated that appropriate expression of Snai2 and Snai3 in cells of hematopoietic derivation plays an important role in development and maintenance of immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Pioli
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, United States.
| | - Xinjian Chen
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, United States
| | - Janis J Weis
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, United States
| | - John H Weis
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, United States
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37
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Pioli PD, Weis JH. Snail transcription factors in hematopoietic cell development: a model of functional redundancy. Exp Hematol 2014; 42:425-30. [PMID: 24674754 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Coordinated gene expression is crucial in facilitating proper lymphoid cell development and function. The precise patterns of gene expression during B- and T-cell development are regulated through a complex interplay between a multitude of transcriptional regulators, both activators and repressors. We have recently identified the Snail family of transcription factors as playing significant and overlapping roles in lymphoid cell development, in that deletion of both SNAI2 and SNAI3 was required to fully impact the generation of mature T and B cells. Analyses using compound heterozygote animals further demonstrated that SNAI2 and SNAI3 were partially haplosufficient and relatively equivalent in their ability to preserve B-cell generation in the bone marrow. In this review, we summarize studies elucidating the role of the Snail family in hematopoiesis, with a focus on lymphoid cell development. Using the Snail family as an example, we discuss the concepts of functional redundancy and strategies employed to assay transcription factor families for intramember compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Pioli
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - John H Weis
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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38
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Norton CR, Chen Y, Han XH, Bradley CK, Krebs LT, Yoon JK, Gridley T. Absence of a major role for the snai1 and snai3 genes in regulating skeletal muscle regeneration in mice. PLOS CURRENTS 2013; 5. [PMID: 24270643 PMCID: PMC3828230 DOI: 10.1371/currents.md.e495b27ee347fd3870a8316d4786fc17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The Snail gene family encodes DNA-binding zinc finger proteins that function as transcriptional repressors. While the Snai1 and Snai2 genes are required for normal development in mice, Snai3 mutant mice exhibit no obvious abnormalities. The Snai3 gene is expressed at high levels in skeletal muscle. However, we demonstrate by histological analysis that Snai3 null mutant mice exhibit normal skeletal muscle. During hindlimb muscle regeneration after cardiotoxin-mediated injury, the Snai3 null mice exhibited efficient regeneration. To determine whether the Snai3 gene functions redundantly with the Snai1 gene during skeletal muscle regeneration, we performed hindlimb muscle regeneration in mice with skeletal muscle-specific deletion of the Snai1 gene on a Snai3 null genetic background. These mice also exhibited efficient regeneration, demonstrating that there is no major role for the Snai1 and Snai3 genes in regulating skeletal muscle regeneration in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R Norton
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA
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39
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The snail family gene snai3 is not essential for embryogenesis in mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65344. [PMID: 23762348 PMCID: PMC3675094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Snail gene family encodes zinc finger-containing transcriptional repressor proteins. Three members of the Snail gene family have been described in mammals, encoded by the Snai1, Snai2, and Snai3 genes. The function of the Snai1 and Snai2 genes have been studied extensively during both vertebrate embryogenesis and tumor progression and metastasis, and play critically important roles during these processes. However, little is known about the function of the Snai3 gene and protein. We describe here generation and analysis of Snai3 conditional and null mutant mice. We also generated an EYFP-tagged Snai3 null allele that accurately reflects endogenous Snai3 gene expression, with the highest levels of expression detected in thymus and skeletal muscle. Snai3 null mutant homozygous mice are viable and fertile, and exhibit no obvious phenotypic defects. These results demonstrate that Snai3 gene function is not essential for embryogenesis in mice.
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40
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Chen Y, Gridley T. The SNAI1 and SNAI2 proteins occupy their own and each other's promoter during chondrogenesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 435:356-60. [PMID: 23665016 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.04.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Two Snail family genes, Snai1 and Snai2, encode E2 box-binding transcriptional repressors that are important for cartilage development during long bone formation in mice. We demonstrated previously that the Snai1 and Snai2 genes function redundantly, and compensate for each other's loss during mouse chondrogenesis in vivo. A prediction from this genetic data is that the SNAI1 and SNAI2 proteins can bind to each other's promoter to regulate gene expression. Here we demonstrate that expression of Snai1 and Snai2 RNA and protein is induced during chondrogenic differentiation of cultured mouse ATDC5 cells. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we then show that endogenous SNAI1 and SNAI2 proteins bind to a subset of E2 boxes in both their own and each other's promoter in differentiating ATDC5 cells. Together with our previous genetic data, these results support the model that expression of the Snai1 and Snai2 genes is negatively regulated by their protein products occupying each other's promoter during chondrogenesis, and help provide an explanation for the genetic redundancy observed in the mouse loss of function models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
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